Bell UH-1B N9687R
12 March 1991 · Vero Beach, Florida, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 12 March 1991 at about 14:00 local time, a Bell UH-1B registered N9687R, operated by Colony Services, Inc., was involved in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Vero Beach, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Unknown (NONE)
- Coordinates
- 27.7208, -80.3908
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B
- Registration
- N9687R
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Colony Services, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA91LA113
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENT BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL RESULTING IN OVERTORQUE OF A TAILBOOM ATTACH BOLT WHICH ALLOWED THE TAILBOOM TO SHIFT. THIS DISENGAGED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT AT A COUPLING RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR DRIVE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT 40 FT AGL, THE PLT STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE HIGH/LOW ROTOR/ENG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED & THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED RT YAW. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION & WHILE DESCENDING, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED TREES. HE PULLED COLLECTIVE PITCH BEFORE IMPACT WITH TERRAIN. EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE UPPER RT TAILBOOM ATTACH BOLT WAS STRIPPED WHICH ALLOWED THE TAILBOOM TO SHIFT RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION OF THE NOS. 1 & 2 TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SECTIONS AT THE COUPLING. EXAM OF THE STRIPPED BOLT BY A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL REVEALED THAT IT FAILED DUE TO BEING OVERTORQUED. THE COMPANY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TAILBOOM ATTACH BOLTS ARE CHECKED FOR PROPER TORQUE EVERY 100 HRS & WAS LAST ACCOMPLISHED ABOUT 55 HRS EARLIER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell UH-1B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 May 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Dog Fish Bay, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 May 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Smith Cove, Alaska, United States | Northwest Helicopter, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 May 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Lake Seminole, Georgia, United States | Colony Services, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1991 | Bell UH-1B | Iaeger, West Virginia, United States | Ranger Helicopter Service, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 May 1990 | Bell UH-1B | Ulysses, Kansas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Apr 1992 | Bell UH-1B | La Belle, Florida, United States | Colony Services, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1991 | Hughes 269C | Deland, Florida, United States | Maverick Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jan 1991 | Cessna 182N | La Belle, Florida, United States | Smith, Gregory H. | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Jan 1991 | Cessna 175 | Okeechobee, Florida, United States | Davia, Samuel J. JR. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1991 | Cessna 172N | New Smyrna Bch, Florida, United States | Embry-Riddle Aero. Univ., Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1991 | Cessna 152 | Miami, Florida, United States | Silver Express, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-31-350 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Top Flight Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |